This post covers things to do during October in Nashville, Tennessee, including family-friendly and free activities as well as evening entertainment and live music.
TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN OCTOBER
This top 10 list has concerts, events, attractions, and festivals to check out in Music City during October.
For even more ideas, be sure to check out our master post on things to do in Nashville any time of year.
Don’t forget to check out our popular Nashville posts:
- Hop-On Hop-Off Tours
- Tourist Attraction Discount Passes
- Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage Discounts
- Country Music Hall of Fame Discounts
- Madame Tussauds Nashville
1) Attend a Major Concert
You’ll never be without a concert to go to in Music City.
From the local acts that play in various venues every night of the week to these big-name artists, there are plenty of events to choose from.
- Harry Styles | Oct 1st
- Alice Cooper | Oct 3rd
- Modest Mouse | Oct 4th
- Boz Scaggs | Oct 11th
- Earth, Wind & Fire | Oct 17th
- Judas Priest and Sabaton | Oct 21st
- Gojira | Oct 22nd
- Doobie Brothers | Oct 25th
- Toadies | Oct 27th
- Omarion, Bow Wow, and More | Oct 30th
- Black Label Society | Oct 31st
Click here to see all Nashville music events.
Any of these concerts would be a great way to spend an evening in Nashville. If you’re looking for other things to do at night in Music City, check out our full post.
2) See a Sporting Event
Nashville is big into both music and sports. October is a great time to find a game to go to since multiple professional teams will be playing.
Hockey season has just started back up, and football and soccer seasons are in full swing.
Hockey
Football
Soccer
Basketball
Take a look at all the games in October.
3) Theatre and Stand-Up Comedy
If you’re a fan of theatre and musicals, there are usually a lot of them to see in October.
Unfortunately, since both Broadway and Off-Broadway shows are just now returning to the stage in various cities across the country, there aren't many shows available just yet.
That being said, there will be a few notable comedians coming to Nashville this month! Here are a few of the most noteworthy performers scheduled to appear in October:
- Steve Martin and Martin Short | Oct 24th
- Lewis Black | Oct 15th
- Nate Bargatze | Oct 27th
See all the theatre and performance arts in Nashville here.
4) Take a Sightseeing Tour
October means pleasant, crisp weather - perfect for exploring the town.
Downtown Nashville is easily walkable, and we suggest starting your trip with a walking tour, whether you take a pay-what-you-like tour or lead yourself on our self-guided walking tour.
Another popular option is to take a bus tour of Nashville. A hop-on hop-off tour is a convenient form of transportation as well as a great source of insider information on Music City.
You can also find fun specialty tours such as a comedy bus tour or party bus.
Don’t forget to celebrate Halloween with the kid-friendly Ghost Tour at Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage after hours.
5) See Nashville’s Top Attractions
Taking a trip to Nashville in October is the perfect opportunity to see the city’s top attractions with less crowding than during the busy season of summer.
History buffs will enjoy Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage. Music lovers can tour the Grand Ole Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame.
We've listed some great opportunities to find live music on our post covering things to do at night, as well.
Families with kids, or those who enjoy Music City’s celebrities can visit Madame Tussauds Nashville. We have plenty of suggestions for other things to do with your kids here, too.
If you're on a budget, check out our free activities in Nashville post.
6) Attend Nitro Circus 2021
Fans of extreme sports won't want to miss this incredible circus featuring Travis Pastrana and several other performers in the world of action sports.
This event will feature motorcycle, BMX, and motocross stunts from all kinds of daredevils, which means you can expect plenty of gravity and death-defying stunts.
If you're looking for something fun to do with the family, head down to First Horizon Park on October 15th to see Nitro Circus.
7) Celebrate Nashville Cultural Festival
Approximately 1 in 6 Nashville residents are foreign-born, which means there is a lot of different cultures within the city to be celebrated.
The free Celebrate Nashville Cultural Festival is held on October 2nd, 2021, from 10:00 am - 6:00 pm in Centennial Park.
You’ll be able to enjoy music and dance performances on multiple stages throughout the day.
While the festival itself is free, you might want to bring money with you if you plan on enjoying the World Market vendors or the beer and food vendors that will be set up all day.
Younger visitors won’t have a chance to get bored from the Teen’s Area with dance performances and displays of information about how teenagers of other cultures incorporate that into their lives in Nashville.
The Children's Area encourages kids from different backgrounds to play together with educational games, performances, and fun activities.
If you’re looking for more budget-friendly activities, check out our free things to do post. Visitors with kids can also find things to do in our family-friendly activities post.
(8) Have a Scary Halloween
Nashville has several annual haunted houses, parties, and celebrations during most of October.
If you’re not in Music City during Halloween festivities you can still take a haunted pub crawl to visit local bars and hear spooky stories.
If you get a thrill at intense haunted houses, go to the popular Nashville Nightmare or Nashville Haunted Hayride. They’re generally open from the very end of September through Halloween. They do recommend that all visitors are 13 or older due to the intensity of the experience.
NOTE: The haunted house and haunted hayride have yet to be confirmed for October 2021, but chances are they will be back this year.
Looking for more nighttime activities in Nashville? Check our full evening entertainment post.
(9) Go to the Pumpkin Patch
If there's one family activity you can always count on, it's going to the pumpkin patch to find the best pumpkin for carving.
In addition to the pumpkins, these farms usually also have several other activities to enjoy such as trains, corn mazes, petting farms and more.
Here are a few of the best pumpkin patches near Nashville:
- Honeysuckle Hill Farm
- Lucky Ladd Farms
- Shuckle's Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch
- Walden Pumpkin Farm
- Bottom View Farm
- And more!
Check this list of pumpkin patches for even more options in central Tennessee.
(10) Nashville Oktoberfest
If you enjoy beer, music, and Bavarian culture, don’t miss Nashville’s Oktoberfest. It covers 10 blocks and has been running for 40 years.
You’ll find delicious food vendors with German food, high-quality local breweries, art vendors, and more than one stage offering live German music.
As if that weren’t enough, there will be a parade through downtown Nashville with people dressed in their finest dirndl and lederhosen after the hilariously adorable Dachshund Derby.
This event will be taking place between October 7th - 10th in 2021.
Click here for tickets and more info.
(11) Save Money with a Tourist Attraction Discount Pass
If you’re looking to see multiple major attractions, such as the Country Music Hall of Fame, Studio B, or take any tours, we suggest using a tourist city pass to save money.
Some passes can offer up to 55% retail-price discounts for restaurants, souvenir shops, and attraction tickets.
Featured on Various Passes:
- Madame Tussauds
- Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage
- Hop-On-Hop-Off Tours
- Hard Rock Cafe
See our full tourist attraction discount pass comparison here.
UNCONFIRMED: Boo at the Zoo
The Nashville Zoo at Grassmere is the perfect place for some kid-friendly Halloween festivities! Boo at the Zoo is their annual trick-or-treat tradition after hours. Everyone can dress up in non-scary costumes.
Kids can visit 10-12 treat stations, enjoy magic shows, see zookeeper presentations, and pet some smaller domestic animals.
NOTE: This event has yet to be confirmed for October 2021.
Find more kid-friendly activities in Nashville on our post about things to do with the family.
RELATED POSTS:
- Things to do in Nashville any time of year
- Family-Friendly Activities
- Things to Do at Night
- Free Things to Do in Nashville
- Nashville Walking Tours
- Luggage Storage in Nashville
